Philippines drops to 113th rank in 2019 Corruption Index

The Philippines dropped to the 113th rank out of 180 countries in the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index, a 14-notch fall from its standing of 99th place in 2018.

In the study by global coalition Transparency International, the Philippines scored 34 points on a scale where zero is “highly corrupt” and the perfect score of 100 is “very clean.”

The international average was 43 points, while the regional average of Asia Pacific was 45 points.

The index calculates scores based on 13 data sources from 12 institutions that “capture perceptions of corruption within the past two years.”

“The CPI 2019 reveals a staggering number of countries are showing little to no improvement in tackling corruption,” Transparency International said. “The current state of corruption speaks to a need for greater political integrity in many countries.”

To curb corruption, the coalition urged the strengthening of checks and balances, limiting the influence of “big money” in politics, and the inclusion of public input in political decision-making.

“Public policies and resources should not be determined by economic power or political influence, but by fair consultation and impartial budget allocation,” they said. —LDF, GMA News